I had a plan.
Destroy the waterfront deal, which would not only burn the Antonovs’ and Russos’ connections, but it would cost them millions.
Then I spent the night with Brielle and let a woman guide my emotions.
I should’ve learned from my father’s mistakes.
But here I am, making them.
It started with the marriage. I convinced myself I was righting the wrongs of the past.
Then I threw in an heir.
Again, it’s what’s owed to my family.
I told myself I would keep my heart out of it. Treat it like a business deal.
But the more I’m around her, the harder it’s becoming to keep my heart locked away.
I reach under the sink and grab the pharmacy bag.
I thought it was a good idea at the time, but now I’m second-guessing myself.
Fuck! I’ve become weak.
I put the bag back. Stare down at it. Grab it again.
“Hey, Kane … can you—” Brielle opens the bathroom door and glances at me curiously. “What’s in the pharmacy bag?”
“An out-of-date prescription,” I lie. “Found it when I was making room for your stuff and forgot to throw it away. What’s up?” I ask, changing the subject.
She looks like she wants to question me, but instead, she turns around and lifts her blonde tresses, exposing her flawless back. “Can you unzip me, please?”
“Of course.” I fold up the bag and shove it into my tux jacket and then walk over to her.
As my fingers run down her back, lowering the zipper, Brielle outwardly shivers, and I grin, loving the way my touch affects her.
“There you go,” I say once it’s undone. “And in case I forgot to mention it, you looked beautiful tonight.”
I lay a soft kiss on her flesh, and then I leave her in the bathroom to finish getting undressed. I consider throwing the bag in the garbage, but doing so will mean admitting I’ve gone completely soft for this woman. So, instead, I head to my office and place the bag in my drawer, locking it for safekeeping.
It’s just a slight deviation from my plan,I tell myself.
But my goal is still the same.
19
Brielle
“Oh my God.This feels so good.”
I glance at my pregnant sister-in-law, whose eyes are rolling up to the gods, and laugh. I might not have wanted to do anything that involvedcelebratingmy upcoming marriage, but spending the day at the spa with Nicole, Dani, Peyton, and my mom has been nice.
When I first moved back, I tried to keep in touch with some old friends, but I quickly learned how fake they were, trying to use me to get to my brothers, and once they were both off the market, I barely heard from them. So, when Nicole asked me who I wanted to join us, my family and Nicole were the only people that popped into my head.
“Be careful,” I say to Dani. “It might get back to Matteo that someone else is getting you off, and he’ll kill ’em.”
Dani snorts out a laugh, but then quickly sobers. “You’re right. He probably would. Although, the closer I get to popping this little one out, the more he gives in to my every whim. I could bat my lashes and ask him not to kill anyone, and he’d listen.”
